Gotham FC adds Seven National Team Replacement Players for Summer Cup Final

HARRISON, NJ (Thursday, October 24, 2024) - NJ/NY Gotham FC today announced the club has signed seven players to National Team Replacement Player (NTRP) contracts for the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup Final. The players include Nicole Baxter, Sabrina Flores, Cheyna Matthews, Libby Moore, Mana Shim, Mak Whitham and Sakura Yoshida.

Baxter was previously an NTRP for the July break and during the group stage of the tournament. She previously played for Gotham FC from 2019-22. Baxter initially signed with the club in 2019 as a NTRP before earning a contract. The midfielder appeared in 16 matches across all competitions for Gotham FC.

Flores was also an NTRP during the group stage of the tournament. Last season, Flores was a part of Gotham FC’s 2023 NWSL Championship roster. The New Jersey native initially joined the club as a NTRP in 2019. Flores went on to join Sevilla FC for a season before returning to Gotham FC in 2020 and played through the 2023 season.

Matthews will be coming out of retirement for the Summer Cup Final. The forward previously played for the Chicago Red Stars in 2023, Racing Louisville FC from 2021-22 and the Washington Spirit from 2016-20. On the international stage, Matthews represented Jamaica and was a part of the 2019 and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squad.

Moore has previously played abroad, and began her professional career with Fortuna Hjørring in the Danish Women's League. She then went on to play for Shelbourne FC in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Before her professional career, the defender played collegiately at the University of North Carolina from 2019-22.

Shim will be making her return to Gotham FC for Friday’s match. Shim was a part of the 2023 NWSL Championship winning squad last season after joining on an injury replacement contract. Before joining Gotham FC last season, Shim previously played with the Portland Thorns (2013-17) and Houston Dash (2018).

Whitham also featured as an NTRP during the earlier stages of the tournament. The forward signed a contract in July with the club that will be effective beginning January 1, 2025, which made her the youngest-ever contracted player in the NWSL. Whitham has been training with the club throughout the 2024 season and was a non-roster invitee with the club during preseason.

Yoshida joins Gotham FC after playing for Chifure AS Elfen Saitama from 2023-24 in Japan’s WE League. The midfielder played collegiately for the University of Oklahoma from 2020-21 as well as the University of Oregon in 2019, where she was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team.

Gotham FC travels to San Antonio to play in the Summer Cup Final against the Kansas City Current on Friday, October 25 (8 p.m. ET, CBS Sports).

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